University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt
28-4,18-2ACC
Michigan
22-11,11-9Big Ten
Pitt Completes Sweep over Michigan to Advance to Sixth Consecutive Regional Semifinal
12/6/2025 9:22:00 PM | Volleyball
PITTSBURGH – The Pitt volleyball team (28-4, 18-2 ACC) swept Michigan (22-11, 11-9 ACC) 25-23, 25-23, 25-18 on Saturday night at the Petersen Events Center to advance to its sixth consecutive Regional Semifinal. Olivia Babcock powered the Panthers with a match-high 24 kills on a .370 clip, while Marina Pezelj matched her career best with 12 kills.
Michigan opened the first set with a 6-3 lead, prompting an early Pitt timeout. The Panthers pulled even at 11-11 before the Wolverines responded with a 4-2 run to force Pitt's final timeout. Kills from Babcock and Pezelj helped Pitt surge ahead, leading Michigan to call a timeout trailing 19-18 and again at 22-21. A Mallorie Meyer ace and two Babcock kills closed out the set, 25-23.
Pitt carried that momentum into the second set, building a 9-4 lead and forcing another Michigan timeout. The Wolverines trimmed the deficit to 18-17, prompting Pitt to regroup. A kill from Blaire Bayless and a string of Michigan errors pushed the Panthers ahead 22-19, and despite a late Michigan push and a final Pitt timeout, the Panthers secured another 25-23 win.
The third set was a back-and-forth battle early, with Pitt holding a 15-13 lead at the media break. The Panthers extended the lead to 18-15, triggering a Michigan timeout, and again to 22-17, prompting another. Pitt closed the match behind a Meyer ace and two late kills to take the set, 25-18, and complete the sweep.
With the win, Pitt will host the NCAA Regional next Thursday and Saturday. The Panthers will face No. 4 seed Minnesota in the Regional Semifinal on Thursday at 7 p.m. on ESPN2, followed by No. 2 seed SMU and No. 3 seed Purdue at 9:30 p.m. The winner of both matches will play in the Regional Final on Saturday.
NOTES
- Marina Pezelj tied her career high with 12 kills while hitting .333.
- Brooke Mosher recorded 36 assists and directed Pitt to a .333 team hitting percentage.
- Olivia Babcock and Emery Dupes led the Panthers with eight digs each.
